The Rosebuds: Loud Planes Fly Low

The Rosebuds
Loud Planes Fly Low
Merge Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: The Rosebuds enter new territory on their fifth long player Loud Planes Fly Low.

Album Review:
Loud Planes Fly Low has one of the more interesting back stories you will hear as The Rosebuds core members Kelly Crisp and Ivan Howard divorced after their last record Life Like [2008] but forged ahead with the band. This sets up a very different record, as the duo use their music and rotate lead vocals to sort out new boundaries, struggle to define their current relationship and together try to find their individual selves. The subject matter clearly drives the tempo on Loud Planes Fly Low and as you might expect, it is very melancholy. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as opening track "Go Ahead" represents some of their best work to date but it also needs to be understood by long time followers that the playfulness you may be expecting from The Rosebuds is gone. The mood, the songs and the focus are understandably different on Loud Planes Fly Low but this record is also a huge turning point for The Rosebuds that shows off a maturity that has never been heard before and works well into their sound. Assuming the band makes it to album number six, Loud Planes Fly Low could be the right catalyst for something great, as The Rosebuds have always had talent but now they have a musical balance that is built on true emotion and could take them anywhere!

Key Tracks: "Go Ahead", "Woods", "Second Bird Of Paradise"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Handsome Furs
Luna
Yo La Tengo

The Rosebuds: Life Like [Fire Note Review 10/17/08]

The Rosebuds Website
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Merge Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony